Crime Lab Botches 2,500 Meth Tests

Human error resulted in botched lab results for 2,500 people who were arrested in Santa Clara County under suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance, according to ABC 7.

After retesting the results, only six showed up as false positives due to a lab analyst’s error. He had accidentally used a more sensitive compound, mistaking it for the actual chemical located next to it which had a similar name.

All six individuals have been let off based on the new test results, according to the district attorney, says ABC 7.

The testing occurred between January and March but was discovered just last month. The lab technician has since been reassigned to a different post, pending an investigation into the matter.